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There is evidence showing that increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion, or interocclusal distance, reduces pain symptoms in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and bruxism. The mechanism underlying the analgesic effect is still under investigation. Some researchers propose either a gate mechanism or the activation of the trigemino-cardiac reflex. In this study, sensory and pain thresholds changes in the mandibular district have been evaluated in twenty healthy subjects immediately after 5 minutes of mandibular stretching at maximum opening of the jaw. Results showed a 60% increment in sensory threshold and a 70% increment in pain threshold (p<0.001) compared with the baseline values. The magnitude of the analgesic effect seems proportional to the extent of mandibular opening. These and similar results are discussed as for the implication in the treatment of TMD related symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) by means of oral splints is a practice widely used in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), specifically myofascial pain, although the results are still uncertain. Oral splints with a vertical height that significantly exceeds the clinical rest position are considered by some researchers to be a better therapeutic solution in alleviating TMD symptoms than are "low" splints. In our observational study, 21 patients suffering from myofascial pain were examined for the effects of wearing a "high" oral splint while sleeping for 3 months. To ensure proper splint making, a mandibular stretching procedure was used to induce a relaxation of the patients' masticatory muscles and allow the correct alignment of the jaws. Results showed a marked increase of the interocclusal distance or "free space" (hence of OVD; from 0.64±0.53 mm to 1.42±0.76 mm, p<0.0001) measured by a kinesiograph, followed by a substantial reduction of the intensity of pain in oral and extraoral regions after using the splint. These results support the view that increasing OVD beyond the clinical rest position is not detrimental to patients' health. More importantly, high oral splints has been shown to be a promising therapeutic aid for the treatment of TMD and correlated pain syndromes. This clinical trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02908568). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latex gloves are used by surgical staff to avoid exposure to patient body fluids, thus reducing the risk of contracting bloodborne viral diseases, such as hepatitis C and HIV. We studied the efficacy of the surgical barrier provided by latex gloves, before and after use in the operating theater. The electrical conductivity, insulation and mechanical resistance of glove latex were investigated, using routine supplies of surgical gloves. Latex structure was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Latex is subject to hydration, a phenomenon associated in the laboratory with the loss of its electrical insulation properties. Such glove latex properties were found to be highly variable, with latex hydration times varying between 2 and more than 30 min. Rapidly hydrating gloves showed increased permeability to methylene blue, associated with higher levels of porosity. Thirty min of surgical use was associated with measurable hydration of glove latex and a statistically significant loss of electrical and mechanical resistance, with rupture load decreasing by 24%. Electronic control of the insulation properties of gloves during surgery permits early detection of hydration, and allows prompt correction by glove change, before the gloves lose their electrical and mechanical competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(3)H-thymidine incorporation was studied in cultured human nasal and articular chondrocytes exposed to low-energy, low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) (75 Hz, 2.3 mT). The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis shows that human secondary chondrocytes derived from both nasal and articular cartilage express collagen type II mRNA, which is a specific marker of the chondrocyte phenotype. In a preliminary series of experiments, cells were exposed to PEMF for different time periods ranging from 6 to 30 hours (time-course), in medium supplemented with 10% or 0.5% fetal calf serum (FCS) and in serum-free medium. The ratios between the (3)H-thymidine incorporation in PEMFs and control cultures show an increase of the cell proliferation in cultures exposed to PEMFs when serum is present in the culture medium, whereas no effect was observed in serum-free conditions. The increase in DNA synthesis, induced by PEMFs, was then evaluated only at the times of maximum induction and the results were analyzed by the three-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA). The data presented in this study show that even if (3)H-thymidine incorporation is higher in nasal than in articular chondrocytes, PEMF induce an increase in the proliferation of both cell types. Moreover, the concentration of FCS in the culture medium greatly influences the proliferative response of human chondrocytes to the PEMF exposure. Though normal human osteoblast cells increase their proliferation when exposed to PEMFs if only 10% FCS is present in the medium, human chondrocytes are able to increase their cell proliferation when exposed to PEMFs in the presence of both 0.5% and 10% of FCS in the medium. The results obtained may help to explain the basic mechanisms of PEMF stimulation of fracture healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic active against Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, in five patients with end-stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Although teicoplanin was eliminated in the peritoneal fluid, relatively little was recovered (6.8±1.2% of the given dose). The following values were obtained: elimination half-time 102-347 h; total body clearance 4.16-7.38 ml·h·kg, peritoneal clearance 0.31-0.37 ml·h·kg. Because the elimination of teicoplanin is about four times less in patients undergoing CAPD compared with subjects with normal renal function, the dose of teicoplanin should be reduced appropriately in such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is possible to obtain habituation of swim induction by stimulating the leech with repetitive light electrical trains. After obtaining this simple form of nonassociative learning, it is also possible to potentiate its response by a series of nociceptive skin brushings (dishabituation). Serotonin applied to the animal is the only neurotransmitter found to mimick dishabituation. We have observed that in the period April-June most animals did not exhibit potentiation of the swimming response after nociceptive stimulation while injection of serotonin mimicked dishabituation as in the animals treated in the period October-March. We have seen correlation between the changes in nonassociative learning and the seasonal variation of serotonin levels in segmental ganglia. This finding strengthens the hypothesis of serotonin as the neurotransmitter mediating dishabituation in swim induction of the leech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacokinctic profile of teicoplanin after single 3 mg/kg doses in adults with different degrees of renal failure was reviewed. The disposition of teicoplanin was adequately described by a three-compartment open pharmacokinetic model and it appears to be primarily related to the degree of renal function. Teicoplanin total body clearance was less and the terminal elimination half-life progressively prolonged in association with renal failure, but the. volume of distribution at steady-state did not change. Highly significant relationships between teicoplanin total body and renal clearance and creatinine clearance have been reported and serve as a basis for adjusting dosage in patients with renal failure. In patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis teicoplanin, administered either intravenously or intraperitoneally, showed bidirectional exchange characteristics through the peritoneal membrane, although transfer from the systemic circulation to peritoneal fluid was consistently low. Haemodialysis made no significant contribution to total body clearance of teicoplanin. Guidelines for administration of teicoplanin in patients with renal failure are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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